Painesville City Fire Department

09/11/2026

Today marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11. PCFD assisted with the ceremony, as we have every year since 2001. As part of a tradition begun by retired Fire Chief Mark Mlachak, our department supported the memorial service with set up, a firefighter bell service and firefighter’s prayer. It was my honor once again to speak at this event, sharing some of my reflections of the past 25 years. I was also honored to be asked to assist with the organization of the memorial service. I would like to thank the following people, who took time from their busy schedules to offer their reflections on this day.

Jim Fodor, Painesville City Council President
Anthony Zampedro, Assistant City Manager, City of Painesville
Deputy Chief Mike Biddell, Concord Twp. Fire Dept.
Sgt. Mike Bailey, Painesville Police Dept.
Dale Fellows
FF (retired) Ed Jividen, Painesville City Fire Dept.
John Plecnik, Lake County Commissioner

I would also like to thank Painesville City Councilman and American Legion Post #336 member Derrick Abney for performing the Invocation and Benediction, retired PCFD FF Ed Jividen for assistance with the firefighter bell ceremony, and Thom Seymour (USMC Retired) for his invaluable help with coordination, set up, tear down and maintenance of the memorial supplies. Thank you as well to Michell LaPuma and Justin Gollin of Painesville City’s Parks Dept., and their personnel for coordinating our use of the gazebo and help with tear down. Our city certainly has a great team!

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone who came to share int eh remembrance of this day. We are reminded to “never forget” and I for one will always remember, to honor those who paid the ultimate price.

Thomas Hummel, Fire Chief

Photos by Michael Cook, Public Information Officer for Painesville CIty

09/10/2026

09/09/2026

We often get calls regarding disposal of some of these products. Just a friendly reminder. Last day for household hazardous waste collection is this Saturday, September 12th!

The second and final Household Hazardous Waste Collection of 2026 will be held this Saturday, September 12th, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Lake County Fairgrounds. For more information, please call (440) 350-2645.

NOTE: tires are not accepted at this collection.

09/08/2026

The calls are coming in. ☺️

While we are very, very grateful that this article has already reached so many, we would like to clarify that the programs we have are going to be for Painesville City residents. This does not include Painesville Township. If you live outside of the city limits, we will have to refer you to the jurisdiction that you are in. I have included a link to the city map in this post. Please do not hesitate to call if you have confusion about a city vs. township address. We are happy to verify this for you, regardless!

https://www.painesville.com/index.asp?SEC=9FFDE3C1-6B70-473D-8BB1-1AC9743969F5&DE=A15BAB2F-3FBC-47A8-BABC-631D63DCFD7B

The Painesville City Fire Department has offered smoke detectors to residents for years, and now it’s launching a new program to provide them with another type of life-saving alarm. The department is offering free carbon monoxide d…

09/05/2026

2026 ACTIVE THREAT/MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT DRILL

Photos include actors and fake blood.

The Painesville City Fire Department recently participated in the 2026 Lake County Active Threat/Mass Casualty Incident Drill, a two-day regional training exercise designed to strengthen the ability of law enforcement, fire/rescue, and emergency communications personnel to work together during large-scale critical incidents.

The training was held on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, and Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Painesville Township. Nearly 200 police, fire, and dispatch personnel from Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, and Cuyahoga Counties participated in this year’s exercise.

Now in its ninth consecutive year, the Active Threat/Mass Casualty Incident Drill provides first responders with an opportunity to train together in a realistic, controlled environment. This year’s scenario focused on a heavily populated open-air incident, allowing participating agencies to practice coordinated response operations, patient assessment and treatment, victim extraction, communications, scene coordination, and other critical functions associated with a mass casualty event.

Members of the Painesville City Fire Department participated alongside our law enforcement and fire/rescue partners throughout the exercise. Training of this nature is an important part of maintaining operational readiness and ensuring that agencies can effectively work together when responding to complex incidents that require a coordinated, multi-agency response.

The drill brought together personnel from numerous agencies throughout Northeast Ohio, including fire departments, police departments, dispatch centers, emergency management personnel, specialized medical teams, and other public safety organizations.

The training also included realistic role players portraying injured victims, allowing responders to practice patient triage, treatment, stabilization, and movement under conditions designed to replicate the challenges of a real mass casualty incident.

The Painesville City Fire Department would like to thank the members of the Lake County Active Threat/Mass Casualty Incident Drill Training Group for their continued commitment to providing this valuable training opportunity. We also appreciate the cooperation and dedication of all participating law enforcement, fire/rescue, dispatch, emergency management, and medical personnel.

We would also like to extend our appreciation to the Lake County Fair Board and fairgrounds staff for providing the location and supporting the exercise, as well as the numerous organizations and individuals whose efforts made this year’s training possible.

Exercises such as this reinforce an important principle of emergency response: no single agency can handle a large-scale critical incident alone. Effective communication, coordinated operations, and strong relationships between public safety agencies are essential to protecting our communities.

We are proud to continue participating in this annual training and working alongside our regional partners to improve our preparedness, response capabilities, and ability to serve the residents of Painesville and the surrounding communities.

We thank all of the first responders who participated in this year’s exercise and continue to dedicate their time and expertise toward making our communities safer.

09/02/2026

Unfortunately, we have to postpone our story time with the Police Department. We want this to be an enjoyable event. Due to the heat index and the threat of severe storms in the forecast, we are not confident that will be the outcome. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we hope to see you at the new scheduled date of September 16th @ 6:00PM.

09/01/2026

It’s September. We know everyone is excited for Fall and all the Holidays around the corner. The weather gets cooler (hopefully!) and the scenery starts to change. We also know that September is National Su***de Prevention Month, and we would like to take a moment to share a message with everyone. We would like to raise mental health awareness, share vital resources, and break the stigma surrounding su***de.

From all of us at the Painesville City Fire Department, we want to remind our community of something simple but incredibly important:

You are not alone. And it’s okay to ask for help.

As first responders, we see people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. We know that a crisis can happen to anyone—our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers, our family members, and sometimes even ourselves.

Su***de prevention starts with connection. If you’re struggling, tell someone. If you’re worried about someone, reach out and ask how they’re really doing. You don’t have to have the perfect words. Sometimes the simplest thing can make a difference.

Local and National resources:

- 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24/7 crisis support.
- Lake County Crisis/Su***de Hotline: 440-953-8255 — available 24/7 for Lake County residents
- Lake County Compass Line: 440-350-2000 — for help finding mental health and substance-use resources when you are not experiencing an immediate crisis.
- Signature Health – Painesville Community Health Center: 440-853-1501 — offers mental health counseling and psychiatry for children and adults, along with addiction treatment and other services. Located at 54 S. State St. in Painesville.
- NAMI Lake County: A local resource for mental health education, peer support, and community programs.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

This September, let's look out for one another. Let's check in. Let's listen without judgment. Let's remind our friends, our family, and our neighbors that they matter. One conversation can make a difference.

08/24/2026

A few months ago, the City was fortunate to be awarded the OFESF/Enbridge Community Safety and Paramedicine Program Grant. Through this grant, we received 250 carbon monoxide detectors, as well as registration for the 2026 OFCA Officer Development Conference in Columbus, Ohio.

We’re excited to add carbon monoxide detectors to our community safety efforts alongside our existing smoke detector program and Knox Box program. We frequently receive calls from residents asking about CO detectors, so this grant has allowed us to expand an important service and help keep our community safe.

We’re also grateful that Cpt. Algier was able to attend the OFCA conference through this grant. While there, he was able to hear dozens of speakers and breakout sessions covering topics including first responder health and safety, leadership strategies, and administrative skills.

In addition to the grant, we were incredibly grateful to receive a generous donation from Painesville Elks Lodge #549 earlier this year. Their support allowed us to add additional inventory to the carbon monoxide detectors provided through the grant.

We will administer the CO detector program much like our smoke detector program. If you or someone you know is in need of a carbon monoxide detector, please contact our administrative office at 440-392-5848 to inquire about the program.

A huge thank-you to OFESF, Enbridge, and Painesville Elks Lodge #549 for supporting our efforts to make our community safer!
Working together, we can help protect our residents from the dangers of carbon monoxide

08/18/2026

A safety tip for today 📝

Did you know many people use their oven as extra storage space for pots, pans, Tupperware, cutting boards, or even pizza boxes? Maybe your kids have even found the oven to be a great hiding spot for a favorite toy. It’s also important to check for leftover grease, food spills, crumbs, or anything else that may have been left inside. Before turning on your oven, take a few seconds to look inside. A quick check can help prevent a fire, melted items, smoke, or other damage. The kitchen is the leading cause of home fires, accounting for roughly 44% of all reported residential building fires in the United State.

So, what should you do if you see flames or heavy smoke coming from your oven?

- DO NOT open the appliance!
- Turn off the appliance
- Get Out and Stay Out! Remove your family from the home and perform a headcount. Do not spend time putting on shoes, grabbing items, etc. Fire Departments have several ways to keep you safe and comfortable in all weather conditions.
- Do not go back inside. Dial 911 from outside.
-Meet the Fire Department when they arrive and direct them to the problem

08/11/2026

August 10, 2026
For General Release

Yesterday, August 10th, at approximately 11:26AM, Painesville City Fire Department, along with Automatic Mutual Aid from Painesville Township Fire Department, Concord Twp Fire Department, and Fairport Harbor Fire Department, responded to the report of a possible Hazardous Materials Incident at 787 Renaissance Parkway in Painesville.

PCFD units arrived to find a drum that was over-pressurized and smoking, due to a reaction process of the chemical in the drum. All employees had safely evacuated the building upon arrival of the Fire Department.

There was no release of any harmful chemicals into the environment. There were no injuries to civilians, plant employees or firefighters. The facility has begun internal cleanup measures to ensure that no harmful chemicals are released.

PCFD personnel, who are also trained as Hazardous Materials Technicians, investigated and assessed the scene to determine a plan of action. A Hazardous Materials MABAS Alarm was struck bringing Willoughby Fire Department, Wickliffe, OH Fire Department and Mentor Fire Department to the scene as well as on-duty technicians from Perry Joint Fire District, Madison Fire District, and STERIS Corp. Haz-Mat Operations were established, and technicians applied water to cool the drum until it could be stabilized and moved to a safe location. Technicians also assisted with air monitoring in other parts of the facility so employees could enter to shut down operations.

Thomas C. Hummel, Jr.
Fire Chief